November 3 - The USSR Sends the First Animal into Space

This Day in History: 3 November 2020

 

3 November 1957

 

63 years ago, today, the Soviet Union launched the first animal into space, a dog named Laika, aboard the 'Sputnik 2' spacecraft. Laika was part Siberian husky, who had lived as a stray on the Moscow streets before being enlisted into the Soviet space program. She survived for several days as a passenger in the Soviet Union's second artificial Earth satellite, kept alive by a sophisticated life-support system. Electrodes were attached to her body, and enabled scientists on the ground to gain important information about the biological effects of space travel. Sadly, Laika died after the batteries of her life-support system ran down.

 

In the next few years, at least a dozen more Russian dogs were launched into space in preparation for the first manned Soviet space mission, and at least five of these dogs died in transit. Other non-human animals that have been launched into space include monkeys, apes, cats, tortoises, mice, frogs and insects. Seven national space programs have flown animals into space: the Soviet Union, the United States, France, Argentina, China, Japan, and Iran. In April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to ever travel into space, aboard the spacecraft 'Vostok 1'. He orbited Earth before he landed safely back in the USSR.

 

Want to find out more about the history of animals in space? Click here for more information, or here for more about Laika.

Lego Roundheads and Boye the Dog

Thanks to everyone for their help during Stuart Week. We've had historians and costumes, a debate a film and a battle! Tying up a few loose ends, Boye the dog wasn't really given the attention he deserved this afternoon. This giant hunting poodle was Prince Rupert's loyal accomplice across several battles, and people thought he had magical powers because of his ability to survive the fighting - he was even promoted to Sergeant-Major General! Sadly Boye's luck ran out during Marston Moor. He was tied up a safe distance from the battle but managed to escape and went looking for his master, but was killed whilst doing so, as depicted in the picture below. Prince Rupert's career after the battle is equally fascinating, and deserves its own blog post at a later date.


Meanwhile, some of you may have seen this picture of Thomas Fairfax depicted in Lego. To see further creations, including Charlemagne, Abraham Lincoln and Gandhi - click here (but sadly this doesn't work at school)

Marston Moor

The Battle of Marston Moor will take place on Friday lunchtime! This was the bloodiest battle of the war, where Prince Rupert's Royalist troops, having successfully relieved the Siege of York, tried to wipe out Cromwell and Fairfax's Parliamentary army. Did they succeed? What role did Prince Rupert's dog have in all of this? You'll have to come along to find out! (Or click here if you're a bit impatient)

PS: There will also be a brief Stuart Quiz so get revising!